Container with sound-generating closure



Jan. 25, 1966 F. c. GLEAsoN 3,230,651

CONTAINER WITH SOUND-GENERATING CLOSURE Filed Dec. lO, 1962 2SheebS-Shee, l

INVENTOR FRED ERICK OGLEASON ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1966 F. c. GLEASON3,230,661

CONTAINER WITH SOUND-GENERATING CLOSURE Filed Dec. lO, 1962 2Shec-Vcs-Sheel 2 FIGB. I-i

INVENTOR FREDERICBK CGLEASON ATTORNEY United States- Patent O 3,230,661CONTAINER WITH SOUND-GENERATING CLOSURE l Frederick C. Gleason,Cannondale, Conn., assignor to American Home Products Corporation, NewYork, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 10, 1962, Ser. No.243,293 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-11) This invention relates to adispenser-container for liquids which is also useful as a childsnoise-making toy. The dispenser-container of this invention is suitablefor packaging liquid products such as shampoo, bath detergent, handlotions, or other liquids. After the product originally packaged in thecontainer of this invention has been used or consumed, the containerremains useful as an unusually satisfying toy. Accordingly, thisinvention provides an article well adapted to two distinct types of use,and is well suited for the marketing of childrens specialty productssuch as shampoos, bath detergents, or the like, where the prospect oflater utilization of the empty package asa toy makes the productinitially packaged therein more acceptable and desirable to a child.

Generally stated, the invention comprises a resiliently distortionableplastic container provided with an opening in its upper region andprovided with a separable and discardable sealing means therefor adaptedto provide a seal capable of preventing leakage or evaporation of thecontainers liquid contents during shipment or storage, said containerhaving associated with its said opening a removable closure meansprovided with an airflow responsive sound generating device, said soundgenerating device being provided with a passageway therethroughproviding communication between the interior of said container and theexterior thereof and capable of permitting both passage of actuating airinto or from the interior of said container through said air-flowresponsive sound generating device and the dispensing of liquid fromsaid container. Thus the passageway through the above-mentionedremovable closure means serves a dual purpose of acting as a pouringspout and a passage for air to actuate the sound generating device. Insome instances it may be desirable to provide one or more additionalchannels through the said closure means to facilitate pouring orejection of liquid; such additional channels, if provided, should besized so as not to permit passage of so much air therethrough as toreduce the flow of air through the sound generator to below theeffective threshold level of flow effective for actuation of the soundgenerator.

Preferably, the removable cap above referred to is a screw cap havinginternal threads adapted to mate with corresponding external threads onthe neck of the container. However, friction-fitted caps, stretchablesnapon caps, or caps adapted for quick connection and disconnection byengagement or disengagement of short segmented pitched circumferentialribs may also be used.

The air-flow responsive sound generator employed may be of any of theconventional types such as those employing resonant cavity whistles,warbling whistles, single reeds, or double reeds. It may be of a typeoperable by air-flow in either direction or by flow in only a singledirection.

FIGURE 1 shows a vertical section through the upper portion of acontainer constituting one embodiment of this invention. FIGURE 2 showsa generally horizontal section along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3shows a front elevation of another container constituting a secondembodiment of this invention. FIGURE 4 shows a vertical section alongthe line 4-4 of FIG- 3 ,23 0,6 6 l 'Patented dan. 25, 1965 ICC URE 3,and FIGURE 5 shows a horizontal section along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 1 shows a cylindrical bottle 11 of resiliently flexible plasticformed with a threaded neck 12, the threads of which are adapted to matewith the internal threads of screw cap 13. An insert 14 lits snugly intothe neck of the bottle and is held in place by engagement of annularring 16, formed integrally with insert 14, with annular groove 17 inneck 12. A liquid-now channel 18 extends the full length of insert 14.Insert 14 is also provided with a second conduit 19 into which is placedan air-flow responsive sound generator 20, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 ascomprising a double-ended vibratable reed 20a held in spacedrelationship to a boatshaped structure 20h. Vibratable reed 20a is heldin place by lug 21 which is formed integrally with insert 14, andboat-shaped structure 202'), against which reed 20a beats, is held inplace by lug 22, also formed integrally with insert 14.

Bottle 11 is easily filled, for example with shampoo, before it isfitted with insert 14 and cap 13. After the filling operation, insert 14is fitted into the bottle neck, taking care to see that annular ring 16is seated in annular groove 17. Cap 13 is then aiiixed, and the packageis ready for shipment, storage, and sale. The user may remove cap 13 andthen dispense the contents in the desired amount by tipping the bottle.Liquid flow channel 1S serves as a pouring spout, and liquid may bedispensed simply by gravity. If the bottle is squeezed while it is inthe tilted position, liquid is ejected under the increased pressurecaused by the squeezing. When the squeezed bottle is released it quicklyrecovers its initial shape with attendant inrush of air, making a noiseas the air passes through sound generator Ztl. If the bottle is heldupright, alternate squeezing and release of the bottle will generatesound without expulsion of liquid.

While bottle 11 has been referred to in the foregoing as a cylindricalbottle, it will be obvious that it could as well be square, rectangular,rhomboidal, conical, or pyramidal; alternatively, it may be in the shapeof a fanciful animal as in FIGURE 3, or may be in a form simulating orsuggestive of a satellite, rocket, ship, submarine, or other shapeglamorous to children.

While FIGURES l and 2 show the sound generating device as a double-endedvibratory reed, a single-ended reed or other sound generating devicesmay be used in its place. Resonant cavity whistles of types familiar tothe squeeze-toy art may be employed.

Though the specific embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and Z and describedabove has two channels through bottle-throat insert 14, one primarilyfor liquid-flow and one housing the sound generator 20, it is to beunderstood that it is within the scope of this invention to provide aplurality of liquid-flow channels 13 or to mount the sound generator ina single channel having appropriate free space to serve as a liquid-flowconduit.

FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of this invention. InFIGURE 3 fa container 31 is shown in the form of a fanciful animal,having a threaded bottle neck 32 at the top, and a threaded calp 33.Bottle neck 32 is fitted with an insert 34, shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.Insert 34 is formed with `an annular groove 36 cooperating with a ring37 inside neck 31 to hold insert 34 in place. Insert 34 contains aresonance cavity 42 bounded by its vertical cylindrical walls and byflat upper and lower surfaces 40 and 41. Centered openings 3S and 39 insurfaces 40 and 41 serve as 'orifices through which liquid rn-ay bepoured or ejected, and as air-flow passages for the whistle deviceconstituted by insert 34 as a whole.

While the embodiments of this invention shown in the drawings andspecifically described above all have the sound generator within abottle neck insert, and employ a 4conventional threaded cap to seal thecontainer against leakage `of its contents, it will be recognized thatequivaient results can be obtained by positioning the combined soundgenerator and pouring orifice in, for example, a modified screw-cap fora resiliently distortionable plastic bottle. In such case, a discardableland easily removable iiner or insert in the modified screw-carp may beemployed to seal the container during shipping and storage againstleakage of its liquid contents; alternatively, after lling of thecontainer, an adherent disc of plastic may be affixed to the containeropening, thereby sealing it, prior to application of the modifiedscrew-cap having therein the combined pouring orice and sound generator.Prior t-o use, it is then only necessary to unscrew the cap, remove thesaid capliner tor adherent sealing member, and reattach the cap.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for liquids comprising a resilienly iieX- ible containerprovided with a generally cylindrical necked opening, a removable andreplaceable cap adapted to serve as a seal over said necked opening, anda tightly fitting insert completely iillling s-aid necked opening, saidinsert containing a liquid-flow conduit positioned to permit liquid tobe ejected from said container and being provided with a separateair-flow responsive sound generator.

2. A dispenser for liquids reusable as a toy comprising a resilientlyexible container provided with a generally cylindrical necked opening,said necked opening being provided with external screw threads, a capprovided with internal screw threads adapted to mate with the screwthreads of said necked opening, and a tightly tting insert completelylling said necked opening, said insert containing a liquid flow conduitpositioned to permit liquid to be ejected from said container and beingprovided with a separate air-flow responsive sound generator.

3. An article according to claim 1 in which the said insert is providedwith an integrally formed annular ring mating with an annular groove inthe inner surface of the necked opening.

4. An article according to claim 1 in which the sound generator is avibratable reed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,660,085 2/1928Nassau 222-78 2,175,006 10/1939 Tilson 46-l1 X 2,490,368 12/ 1949Millstein 46-11 2,532,729 12/ 1950 Millstein 46-11 2,673,661 3/1954Barton 222-212 2,845,747 8/ 1958 Wintriss 46-117 2,959,889 11/1960Gausewitz 46-41 3,075,317 1/1963 Craft 46-117 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM,Primary Examiner.

1. A DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS COMPRISING A RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE CONTAINERPROVIDED WITH A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL NECKED OPENING, A REMOVABLE ANDREPLACEABLE CAP ADAPTED TO SERVE AS A SEAL OVER SAID NECKED OPENING, ANDA TIGHLY FITTING INSERT COMPLETELY FILLING SAID NECKED OPENING, SAID